Experts from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) said 33 of 102 samples were likely to contain the O157:H7 strain of the infection. This included samples from Lambs, pigs, goats, cattle, ponies and rabbit droppings at a Surrey farm at the centre of an E. coli outbreak. During its visit to Godstone Farm scientists found two samples of E. coli O157 on the floor of the main barn. Nigel Gibbens, Defra chief Veterinary officer, said: "Joint HPA and VLA investigations have confirmed the presence of E. coli O157:H7 bacteria in faeces from a wide range of animals on a premises in Surrey.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said the total number of E. coli cases linked to Godstone Farm had risen to 67. Eight children remain in hospital in a "stable or improving condition".

Let’s see, there is a long history of animal to human bacterial contamination in both England and the United States – see www.fair-safety.com. Here are a few that we have litigated – and continue to do so:

North Carolina State Fair E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Litigation – The North Carolina State Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced on November 8 that the North Carolina State Fair was the source of over 106 cases of E. coli O157:H7 amongst persons who attended the fair. On December 16, N.C. DHHS released an outbreak report, and stated that “Many activities in the Crossroads Farm Petting Zoo were associated with illness.”

What I find most bothersome is that each time it happens in either England or the United States, health officials and petting zoo owners seem to pretend it is happening for the very first time. Here is a PowerPoint I presented in 2004 – we seem never to learn.

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Laura Hendley

The powerpoint and the fair safety website are a great collection of info that illustrate that this is not a small problem. Thanks!

About Bill Marler

Bill Marler is an accomplished personal injury and products liability attorney. He began litigating foodborne illness cases in 1993, when he represented Brianne Kiner, the most seriously injured survivor of the Jack in the Box E. coli O157:H7 outbreak.